Ah, how Dominican of us: KIlling the goose with the golden eggs. We don't seem to realize that for most tourist a beach, is a beach...is a beach. So they may just stop comming here and go somewhere else. It's not like we are the only island in the Caribbean.

207 dollars just in taxes ......that is absurd

Written by: FredCDobbs, 14 Jul 2009 9:19 AM
From: Mexico, Tampico
207 dollars just in taxes ......that is absurd

This is outrageous, and plain dumb, cuba will benefit the most

"Hey we have less people coming so we need to charge them all more to make up for the missing people" . The typical logic of the typical Dominican male. Third grade education but firmly believes hes correct.

LOL.....Veronica ........Efin right about that.

Pretty Dominican>>>>Textbook definition..........An attractive female from The Dominincan Republic
Useage example.....Hey, look at that pretty Dominican over there.

Pretty Dominican>>>>Alternate meaning..........Something really stupid.

Useage example.....Raising the cost of visiting the DR while the number of visitors is declining, is pretty Dominican.

many agents are pushing DR as a luxury vacation package no longer as a bargin. It might be better to have tourist that have $$$ than the ones that can not afford the extra cash. Bigger tips for the tourism industry

xwill7,

That is all well and good; but if you don't have a 'luxury' infrastructure, you cannot claim to be a luxury destination (even if your hotels/resorts are gold-plated).

The better strategy would be to upgrade the infrastructure (water, electricity, road, garbage collection, public transportation, etc.), then attract higher paying guest by virtue of what they see; rather than by what they pay.

I assure you, if you go to the DR right now believing it to be a luxury destination (unless you go to Casa de Campo), you'd want your money back (and you will tell all your friends about it).

Luxury in the DR = El Campo en el mundo moderno!

I stayed in Jarabacoa at a beautiful place on the Rio Gran Jimenoa...beautiful grounds, wonderful exterior on the buildings, great food in the restaurant......no friggin HOT WATER in the shower.....

Major hotels in la Zona Colonial now running plantas to keep their places in business...restaurants in the surrounding areas are dark (out of business)....

You can't know luxury, be luxury or sell luxury from watching it on TV and trying to duplicate it.

the DR creates 98.95768% of ALL it's money problems.....

ElCapitan,

This is the reason I said: "...The better strategy would be to upgrade the infrastructure (water, electricity, road, garbage collection, public transportation, etc.), then attract higher paying guest by virtue of what they see (i.e clean streets, drivable roads, hot and cold water, etc.); rather than by what they pay...."

the gringos pay any price to stay at Punta Cana. I rather stay in Samana.

elcapitan,
Being in el campo means that you should be able to take a shower with no hot water. This is the real experience, you feel alive and connected with the land

xwill7,

I like to be 'connected with the land' as much as the next girl; but after the day is done I want a damn shower. WITH HOT WATER!!! Considering how much money it costs; it's the least the hotel operator can do.

I love thaking a hot shower, but when I go to my grand father's ranch, I have taken those cold showers. even in DECEMBER!!!!! lol

xwill7,

Perhaps so; but the best way to make DR a luxury destination is to have a first-world infrastructure.

Hot water is essential for all hotels but so many think they need only supply it at certain hoursand it will be many years before the DR is a luxury get away ..I think only Casa de Campo is in this category at present .i wonder how many people are actually affected by this tax and if the interpretation here is correct .For example many countries have a visa waiver arrangement with the USA so do residents from these countries pay the extra amount .It would be good to know the details

The metro was a start. Now they need to get rid of the beat up concho cars, that would give DR a huge face lift.
But when you stay at the resort it has 24/7 power anyway so the power problems in DR does not affect the beach tourists as much as a regular citizen

Ricardolito,

It isn't so much how many countries will be affected. The problem is the logic behind the increase: At a time when the number of visitors is declining and in the face of stiff competition from other destinations like Cuba, Costa Rica and even Nicaragua.
Then superimposing the argument that if we charge a lot; then people will think this is a Luxury destination. The whole thing is laughable.

Rosa,
We do have many things that those countries do not... We are home to merengue, tipico, bachata. You can get that type of music quality in those countries. Sure the Dominican gov has corruption but when you travel to DR you feel free and you can do anything you want (take a presidente in your car to go, lol)
Also,
Cuba is not as hi tech as DR.
The forests in Costa Rica and Nicaragua have more dangers than the Dominican forests.

dont kid yourself it is all price and marketing

xwill7,

It would be foolish for us to think we are somehow 'special'. Most tourists visit the DR so that they can lay on the beach and no worry about cooking, cleaning and taking care of the kids. To meet those needs, any resort with a beach would do; and in that regard, the DR is no different than other Caribbean destinations.

The women, the food, presidente, brugal. You can not compare to other places. It keeps people coming back. Also, many tourist go to DR to watch the Dominican leagues... the talent on these leagues are similar to MLB.
The Dominican hospitality can not be compared to.
Whale watching in Samana
River rafting in the central mountains
Nature lovers can go to los Haitises
Lake Enriquillo, we are the only island to have a salt lake
the desert area in the southwest
we have the highest mountain point in the carribean
kite serfing in cabarete
the orange sand in Monte Cristi, white sands in the east, gold sand in the north, greyish sand in the south.
the night life in SD and Santiago
you are thinking about the beach tourists, but there are other tourists that end up spending more $$$ than an average beach tourist
do I need to continue? lol we have the complete package

xwill7,

To each its own: I prefer to be competitive (by having world class infrastructure and basic services) rather than pat myself in the back

Like Kinito Mendez says in his song.... e un paisito que le gusta a la gente. The gringos will come and even in greater numbers due to the crisis in Mexico

xwill7,

By your reasoning then we don't need to do anything to improve the image of the country and ensure the comfort of our guests.
Why pave the street; we have cheap rum
Why pickup the garbage, we have whales in Samana
Why invest in a stable power grid, we have the night life in Sto Dgo and Santiago...
That kind of thinking reminds me of the Hotel operator in the Northern Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. That's what they thought back in the 1980s. Today that area is a true ghost town.

Rosa I understand that the principle seems crazy but in actual fact it may not affect many people and I was wanting to find out who the new fees affect ..Some people from other latin countries do not even need a tourist visa here ..it is just that like most reports here , there is a distinct lack of detail .
on a different side ,,I think most of the tourists that come here on an AA package are young and the most important thing is the cost and the AI packages to the DR are unbeatable

Talking about taxes; Lets look at the wide open oportunity the D.R. has in the yachting industry.
South Florida move's 10.2 billion dollars annualy in yacht related services and products.
The D.R. will tax you in excess of 20% of the value of the yacht if you want to import it to use it for pleasure or charter work under the Dominican Flag.

Yacht owners spend 10% of the yachts value annualy just to own it. Crew salary, Insc., Fuel, Dockage and maintenance. To maintain a yacht you employ painters, carpenters, electricians, electronic techs., welders, plumbers, etc... and the owners have the money to spend.

It's a lot like the monkey with a fist fulll of penuts in the jar. Because he's so greedy trying to remove too many penuts at once, the monkey starves to death because he can't get his fist out of the jar. I suppose they'll never learn. Just look around, there are countless caribbean islands living solely on the yachting industry. LOL

The yachting industry is very lucrative and many islands do very well for example USVI and the BVI are sailing paradises but they have been doing it for years and have better seas better locale more anchorages etc. These people are very important to the economies of the USVI and the BVI and represent 10000 hotel rooms Charter boats that is and the owners have clout as the Boat Vote.all that said there is a great future for transiting sailors in the DR and a lot of money to be made if the government encourages people to come here and does not CONTINUE to shake them down when they clear customs or depart

RosaLaLinda, the more i read your postings, the more i respect your intellect. and Xwill, will you come down to reality and get a grip. what the hell do you mean when you say that you take cold showers at your abuelo's farm? what the hell does that have to do with anything? when you go to abuelo for a weekend, you are not paying five star hotel prices to stay at his house. jeez, guy. and, that list you gave of all the things the DR has; do you think that the other caribbean islands do not have the same thing? we have bachata, they have soca, and reggae. we have river rafting, they have rivers , too. reading your posting sounds like you do not get very far too often. as Rosa reminds us, a beach is a beach. any country within 20 degrees from the equator has nice beaches

dread,
I been to those other countries exept for cuba. I don't know if its my Dominican blood but DR has something special. When ever I am in another country I can't help but think that I wish I was in DR right now.
Rosa,
I never said that improvement is not needed, I would love DR to get out of third world status. Most of the problems that you described do not affect the majority of tourist

this gem from xwill

I been to those other countries exept for cuba. I don't know if its my Dominican blood but DR has something special. When ever I am in another country I can't help but think that I wish I was in DR right now.


DR has something special TO YOU! it is your home, and of course you will yearn for it. similarly, persons from Barbados who vacation here will yearn for their country every time the lights go out and they cannot find the razor blade. or when they drink the tap water in error and end up in the emergency room. tourism has nothing to do with what you think of your country. nobody cares that we have live bachata here. they can get the songs off the internet. no caribbean island can survive in tourism in the caribbean without American tourists. they are the big spenders, and the big tippers. forget tourism if all you have is brigades of visitors from the British isles, hopping off Thompson Fly and paying 599.00 for 6 nights and 5 days.

but Americans want things just so. they live in a service culture. they will pay whatever it takes, but they want the internet in the hotel to work when they want to email little Vanesa back home in Wilton, Connecticut. they want hot water. they want the cab to show up when they request it. they do not care about the latest offering from Antony Santos. to hear you tell it, brings to mind the term RESOURCE COMPLACENCY. it is like a beautiful girl with atrocious hygeine and loathsome personality, who cannot understand why suitors are not beating a path to her door, because she is so lovely. well, lady, your underarm reeks, and you belch loudly in public. get the picture?

dread,
I agree and wish they would have 24/7 power. But even with all of DR's problems the people keep on going back. All of the Americans that I know that went 2 DR come back in love with the island. They love the beer, rum, cigars, beauty of the island, and the women. They all have gone back for repeat trips. Yes, it sucks when there is no power, or the cab is late. But most people adapt and change their habits. They learn that when a Dominican tells you how long something will take simply add an hour.
This is not right but it is what it is for now. I think that the only places that you get good service is where the actual owner is in the house, if the owner is not there then you will have that DMV type service

Easy rider ,,so glad you brought this subject up again and it is the best example I know here of government stupidity ..but golf is close behind with the green fees being almost two times the amount charged in southern California and instead of all the course working together to produce a package of say 5 courses for $300 they never co operate and when they see fewer people they put the prices up ..when will they learn

xwill7,

The idea that we should not try to improve our infrastructure simply because "tourists will keep coming back' is laughable. We are not 'special'. Other than clear blue waters and sandy beaches we don't have much. How eager to return you think our guests will be if they don't have running water, electricity and air conditioned. How eager you think they will be to 'explore' the DR if the minute they leave the confines of the hotel they are confronted by filth and squalor. How eager you think they will be to return then?

hey, xwill, i do not know of the demographic of which you speak. all of the guys i know who came for the chicas come back over and over. the niggling problems do not bother them. if Belkis shows up half hour late, they do not care. but the guys who spend 500 dollars per night DO CARE, whether you believe it or not. the guys who come here for vacation, and go river rafting, can find far better rapids anywhere in america. i am all for a guy who supports his country, but let´s not get carried away. i know of people who have sat in the most fabulous restaurants in the most beautiful setting on the island of Mikonos, in Greece, and complained becausethe beer was warm that day!

Rosa,
I see your point but until the tourist stop coming, no one will fix any of the problems. You say that we do not have anything special??? I thought that DR was ranked 2nd happiest country in the world??? Many tourist visit places because of the people and culture. Our culture and background is rich. Does that not count for you?

Dread,
The guy that spends $500 per night can afford a limo service not a regular street taxi. Some things work in DR but you just have to pay extra for it

further gems from xwill

The guy that spends $500 per night can afford a limo service not a regular street taxi

so then, why should he have to pay exhorbitant rates to get a taxi that arrives on time, when he comes from a culture in which the everyday cab is ready when he is? why should he have to pay 3 dollars for a bottle of water, just because he is rich, when he gets it for virtually nothing in another island? because he can afford it?

hey, I don't like it either but any good service taxi company will cost a bit more. I have gone to a few places that charge 300 pesos for the same Presidente that cost 50 pesos else where. People take advantage when they see the green USD. I always find myself negotiating prices in DR, they tend to over price when they notice that I am from the states. Its not right man

xwill7,
I am sorry; but the following quote seems to illustrate your point of view:
"...it is like a beautiful girl with atrocious hygeine and loathsome personality, who cannot understand why suitors are not beating a path to her door, because she is so lovely. well, lady, your underarm reeks, and you belch loudly in public.."

Unless we start shaving the 'pits and stop belching in public we are only going to attract the riffraff...
Before long we will go from the potential Riviera of the Caribbean to the potential Cambodia of the Caribbean.

Rosa,
If you don't like it then move back to DR and do something about it. Do you think that you will be able to change anything??? No. Things will always be the same until the tourist cash flow stops coming in

Tourism is not a reliable source of income, specially if it is a big portion of the GDP.

"Written by: cyberdragon, 14 Jul 2009 6:25 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Tourism is not a reliable source of income, specially if it is a big portion of the GDP.
"
Tourism as it stand right now will not make it to the 21 st century, not only it;s unreliable source of income, it's also easily influence by domestic and international event, the market suffer from over exposure and saturation. The one shoe fit all will soon disappear,

Echo tourism, curtail to certain groups, and countries are the future, some tourists destination better be prepared, or face the lost of a big chunk of their revenues.

xwill, your point is taken and valid, but you are only partially correct in stating "things will not change"....not because of tourism dollars drying up, but they will never change till basic education fills the minds of the majority of the people of the DR. I have not seen any effort on behalf any administration for many years now to educate the masses. I believe it is an intentional plan.

Tonyj what do you care as long as you can climb out of that snow bank with your little ice scraper in your hand then get out to Pearson and have them strap you to a wing .You could care less if they dropped you in that volcano on Montserrat as long as you got warm .....Go Leafs

"Written by: FredCDobbs, 14 Jul 2009 6:52 PM
From: Mexico, Sierra Madre still digging
Tonyj what do you care as long as you can climb out of that snow bank with your little ice scraper in your hand then get out to Pearson and have them strap you to a wing .You could care less if they dropped you in that volcano on Montserrat as long as you got warm .....Go Leafs
"
You betcha fine with me...

I have just seen, at long last , list of countries that appear to have escaped this increase in visa charges and it is very extensive and it seems that only Columbia,Cuba and Haiti are the only countries close by that are affected ,,the rest are in Africa the Pacific or Asia. Can someone give a logical explanation why these 3 countries have more restrictions but I suppose it is because there seem to be a large number of people living here from those countries and some controls are needed ??

xwill offers

No. Things will always be the same until the tourist cash flow stops coming in

i beg to differ. they will get worse when the cash stops flowing in. i posted six months ago about the concept of the tourism life cycle. a quick google will explain it. what it says , in essence, is that tourism, in most destinations, has a life cycle, much like an animal or person. it goes from infancy, to development, to a stable mid-life, to decline, to relative death. the current state of playa dorada kind of bears out the theory. so, if we do not get the best out of it while we can, 50 years from now, when somewhere like Guatemala is the new hot spot, we will be sitting with our thumbs up our asses , asking what happened.

Tell that to Bermuda and Capri and Porto Fino the Costa del Sol and St Tropez even Coney Island will be making a comeback

you bear out my argument, Dobbsy. 30 years ago, nobody would have thought that coney island would have died. now, if it is ever to come back it will need herculean efforts to recover. it is not just that the amusement rides have become rickety. the area has changed. the demographics have changed. it had been killed by the drugs and prostitutes along Neptune and Surf avenues, and the side streets. Mrs Vanderpoop from Scarsdale is not going to take little Amanda there to ride the cyclone and get a hot dog, not with Brutus lurking in some project building, awaiting the opportunity to show little girls his wee-wee. (a subject you could write books about).LOL

You are all arguing about nothing ..the principle may be wrong but in practice this visa hike affects next to no one ever coming here as a tourist

Coney Island died in the 50s with mobility and the auto

ricky ricardo is correct.... much adieu about nothing

did anyone see that "baseball paradise" commercial during the all star game. Too funny, they show the beach and then some ball players.

Xwill7, while I do love the DR, as a Dominican but NYC born and bred young woman I have to say most people go there because it is cheap.those taxes are high! really high. And other countries offer more services, there is free wi-fi on the all inclusive grounds and A VARIETY of music. Mexico plays merengue and bachata too, along with a little salsa, euro disco and pop, rap,reggae etc. there is a mix! and its more welcoming.
Dominicans for the most part are not very sophisticated it saddens me to say and it is one of the reasons they will be left behind economically. It seems that most do not want to know much outside of mangu and merengue and maybe making money.
Yes tourist go there for the cheap drinks, hotels and women(ie-hookers).Loser dudes that can't get dates back home come back bragging about banging 10 chicks for like 10-20 USD a pop.Its sad really.
That it wants to be perceived as a luxury destination is laughable!

also, it is offensive when there are different prices for different people, this seems to go on everywhere.It feels like everybody is constantly hustling you
.I used to like checking into resorts because the beach was private, now there are vendors badgering you every other minute to buy something.
you can't even close your eyes in peace.
if taxes on visas and flights keep going up, it will not be worth it to go.Already Costa Rica is more popular, with tourist, the kind that like real luxury. I would say it is almost on par with st.kitts, and st.barts.

be careful, nycgirl. there are those posters on this board who believe that the DR is the Riviera of the caribbean, and nobody can touch it. guys like xwill should do a little reading on return tourism statistics, and see what portion of first time visitors return to the DR, and what portion return to places like Bermuda, Barbados, and Turks and Caicos.then , maybe instead of trumpeting how superior we are to the other caribbean destinations, they will exhort their compatriots to offer a competitive product. they believe that high rise hotel buildings= tourism. NOT!

I would love to see the DR on par with modern boutique hotels, at least 400 thread count cotton sheets, real spas a pedicure with a massage chair, not some girl with a bucket!. real luxury and less hustling and respect other cultures. but at this point it is what is, until its not anymore and then it will be nothing when it loses its tourists and then not even Dominicans living elsewhere will come home.yeah, keep raising those prices...

nycgirl, you had better gird your loins for battle, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. because you could be in for a lashing from certain corners of this board.

I was considering visiting the Dominican Republic in November of 2009 but after reading this article I am really going to reconsider it. I realize that the D.R. is a very poor country but it has the highest prices in taxes for hotels, airfare, etc, as well as moneygram. With this tough economy around the world, how do they expect people to afford or want to travel there.

Poor people stay out is the D.R. is the message of course. Other central american countries did the same thing by exempting American and EU pp holders and/or reducing the fee from scum country pp holders with yankee visas. The govt is failing to recognize people from the white glove countries no longer have the money or are unwilling to travel outside their fortress country. Result= decreased tourism. The govt assumes these so called first rate nations have the money to spend. Nothing should be assumed anymore. Yes, Cuba will benefit. Oh, don't let that secret out or the U.S. Corporatocracy will be in their foaming @ the mouth for a way to profit and thereby perpetuate the already grim living conditions set in motion by Castro.